Dispatcher-controlled elevator system



April 8, 1952 J. sUoz-zo I DISPATCHER-CONTROLLED ELEYATOR SYSTEM Filed Deo; 20, 195o' INVENToR fan uo z'zo. BY/KMU ATTQRNEY ha SN Patented Apr. 8, 1952 DISPATCHER-CONTROLLED ELEVATOR SYSTEM John Suozzo, North Arlington, N. J., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 20, 1950, Serial No. 261,815

8 Claims.

This invention relates to dispatcher-controlled elevator systems and it has particular relation to an elevator system having a bank of elevator cars wherein power-operated doors are controlled by a dispatcher.

In the Lewis Patent 2,015,564, issued September 24, 1935 an elevator dispatching system is disclosed wherein power-operated doors are controlled by a dispatcher. In the Lewis system the door of an elevator car is automatically opened as a car approaches the lower terminal floor. If the car is not selected as the next car to leave the lower terminal floor the car attendant may reclose the elevator car door. When so reclosed, the elevator car door remains closed until the car is selected as the next car to leave the lower terminal floor. In response to such. selection, the door is opened automatically to permit entry of prospective passengersinto the car.

It should be noted that in the Lewis system the door of an elevator car is opened upon arrival of the elevator car at the lower terminal floor even though no passenger is to be discharged at the lower terminal oor. This results in an unnecessary opening and closing of the elevator car door. Furthermore, prospective passengers awaiting transportation at the lower terminal floor tend to migrate towards any elevator car standing at the lower terminal door with its door open. Such migration towards an elevator car which is not selected as the next car to leave the lower terminal iioor interferes with the orderly and rapid loading of the elevator Car selected to be the next car to leave the lower terminal floor.

In accordance with the invention, an elevator system is provided wherein an elevator car in vapproaching a terminal floor without load to vator car may be reclosed. Following such re-` closure the door or doors remain closed until the car is selected to leave the terminal floor, whereupon the door or doors open automatically to permit loading of the elevator car.

, vThe invention is particularly suitable for a bank containing two or more elevator cars controlled by a, dispatcher. Although the invention may be applied to any dispatching floor, it will be described with particular reference to the lower terminal floor of a building served by an elevator system.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an elevator system wherein an elevator car approaching a dispatching floor with no load to be discharged at the terminal floor maintains its door or doors closed until it is selected to leave the dispatching iioor.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an elevator system as defined in the preceding paragraph wherein the elevator car upon approaching the dispatching iioor with load to be discharged at the terminal floor automatically opens its door or doors upon arrival of the elevator car at the dispatching oor.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide an elevator system as defined in the preceding paragraph wherein the elevator car upon discharge of its load may have its door or doors reclosed and wherein'the door or doors are opened automatically upon selection of the elevator car to leave the dispatching floor.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an elevator system having a plurality of elevator cars controlled by a dispatcher wherein each of the elevator cars is provided with a poweroperated door which is maintained closed if the elevator car arrives at a dispatching floor with no load to be discharged at the terminal door under conditions such that the elevator car is not selected as the next car to leave the dispatching floor.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an elevator system as dened in the preceding paragraph wherein the door of the elevator car at the dispatching oor is provided with power means controlled to open the door automatically in response to selection of the elevator car as the next car to leave the dispatching oor.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide an elevator system as defined in the preceding paragraph wherein the door of an elevator car carrying load to be discharged at the dispatching door is opened automatically upon arrival at the dispatching floor even though the elevator car is not selected as the next car to leave the dispatching oor. l

It is another object of the invention to provide an elevator system as defined in the preceding paragraph wherein the door-operating mechanism permits reclosure of the door following the discharge of the load at the dispatching floor and wherein the reclosed door opens automatically upon selection of the elevator car as the next car to leave the dispatching floor.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein the single figure is a schematic view of an elevator system embodying the invention.

In order to simplify the description of the invention, the invention has been illustrated as incorporated in the system of the aforesaid Lewis Patent. The following components appear both in the Lewis drawing and in the present drawing. Components which have been modified are identied in the following list by means of an asterisk.

Dispatcher lvl-constant speed motor 3-contact member Il-contact member A, B, C--elevator cars Equipment for car A:

AI U-contact strip AI Icontact strip (first iioor position) AI2-contact strip (top floor position) *AIS-contact bridge *A I 4-lower-terminal relay AI -upper-terminal relay AIG-door AIS-door-opening magnet AI 9-doorclosing magnet *AZO- door-closing relay A21-counter EMF relay MA--motor armature A22-dispatching signal A23-upper terminal floor lantern A24-lower terminal oor lantern A36-lower terminal auxiliary relay A62- car switch AT5-upper terminal auxiliary relay Inasmuch as the modifications are similar for each of the three elevator cars A, B and C, it will suflice to dis-cuss the modifications for the car A alone. By reference to the Lewis patent, it will be noted that Lewis provides a selector or contact device which operates in accordance with car position. The selector or contact device is shown in the present drawing and includes a contact bridge Ait which bridges the contact strips AI and AI? when the elevator car is located at the upper terminal oor. In addition, the contact bridge bridges the contact strips Ai and A! I when the elevator car is located at the lower terminal ioor. In the present system an additional contact strip AS is provided and the contact bridge Als is constructed to bridge the contact strips AS and AIE! when the elevator car A is adjacent the lower terminal floor. By inspection of the drawing, it will be noted that the contact strip A9 engages the contact bridge AIS somewhat before the engagement of the contact strip AII by the contact bridge AES. The reason for this extension of the contact strip All will be discussed below.

As pointed out in the Lewis patent, the lower terminal relay Ahi is energized to pick up only when the car A is located at the l-ower terminal oor and is selected as the next car to leave the lower terminal floor. This relay has been modied by the addition thereto of a set of back or break contacts Al-'lf which are closed when the relay is deenergized. When the relay is ener- 4 gized sufficiently to pick up, the contact, Al4f are open.

Lewis also provided a door closing relay A20 to control the energization of the door closing magnet AEQ. In the present system the relay A20 has been modied by the addition thereto of a set of front or make contacts A2ilc. These contacts are open when the relay A2@ is deenergized and dropped out. The contacts are closed when the relay A25 is energized suiiciently to pick The system further is modied by the addition thereto of a Contact device AI5. This contact device has a set of contacts AISM which are closed when the elevator car A approaches the lower terminal floor with no load to be discharged at such floor. For example, the Contact device AI50 may be responsive to the load carried by the platform of the elevator car. If a load on the platform other than the car attendant is present the contacts Ailia are open. If no load other than a car attendant is on the car platform the contacts AIa are closed. Such a load-responsive device is well known in the art.

However, for present purposes it will be assumed that the contact device Alell is a push button switch which remains in any position to which it is actuated. If a load such as a passenger is to be discharged at the lower terminal licor the car attendant or the passenger operates the contact device AI to open the contacts A I 50a. Thereafter the contacts remain open until the contact device is reset. The contact device may be reset manually but in the present case the contact device is provided with an armature which is actuated by a coil provided for the contact device. This coil is connected in parallel with the lower terminal iloor lantern A24, consequently, when the lower terminal floor lantern is energized the coil of the contact device AI5D is energized to reset the contact device into the condition illustrated in the drawing wherein the contacts of the device are closed.

Except for the above-mentioned modications for each of the three cars, the system illustrated in the drawing is exactly the same as that disclosed in the Lewis patent and the operation of the common portions of the system may be ascertained by study of the Lewis patent. However, for convenience in presenting the invention a brief review will be given of the door operation of the car B in the Lewis system as it approaches the Ylower terminal iioor. YThis review will be based on the same conditions discussed in the Lewis patent, namely, that the elevator car B is approaching the lower terminal floor at a time when the elevator car A is located at the lower terminal rioor and the elevator car A is selected as the next car to leave the lower terminal floor.

As the car B approaches the lower terminal floor the door closing relay B20 and the counter E. IVI. F. relay BEI both are energized. As the motor driving the elevator car B slows down for the stop at the lower terminal oor, the energization of the counter E. M. F. relay B2i decreases until this relay drops out. Such drop-out occurs before the contact bridge Bi 3 engages the contact strip BI I.

Because of the drop-out of the counter E. M. F'. relay B2i the holding circuit of the door closing relay B2b is interrupted and the relay B2i) drops out. rEllis results in deenergization of the door closing magnet AIB for the car B. Inasmuch as the door opening magnet for the car B is energized the door starts to open. Such opening occurs even though the elevator car B carries no load to be discharged at the lower terminal floor. As previously pointed out such opening of the door may be entirely unnecessary and may interfere with the expeditious loading of the elevator car A.

The elevator car door BIB may be a door or gate carried by the elevator car or it may represent a hoistway door located at the lower terminal door. In present day practice, a car gate or door and a hoistway door both may be employed and both may be operated by the door operating mechanism. As an example of present day practice, reference may be made to the Rissler et al. Patent 2,502,995, issued April 4, 1950 which discloses the operation of a car gate or door and a hoistway door by common door operating mechanism.

The operation of the elevator system now will be considered for the case wherein the system incorporates the invention. Again it will be assumed that the elevator car B is approaching the lower terminal floor and that the elevator car A is located at the lower terminal floor and is selected as the next oar to leave the lower terminal door. It will be recalled that under these conditions the relays B23 and B2| are energized and picked up.

The elevator car B further is assumed to carry no load to be discharged at the lower terminal floor, therefore the contacts BI50a are closed. As the elevator car B nears the lower terminal door the contact bridge BI3 engages the contact strip B3 to establish the following holding circuit for the relay B: L1, 16, 11, 18, BIB, BI3, B9, Bldf, B20c, Bl50a, 89, B20, 90, 43, L2.

As the elevator car B slows down preparatory to a stop at the lower terminal floor, the counter E. M. F. relay B2I drops out to interrupt one of the holding circuits for the relay B20. However, since the relay B20 remains energized through the holding circuit completed through the contact strip B9 the relay remains picked up and the door closing magnet AIS for the car B remains energized. Under these circumstances the elevator car B maintains its door closed. Consequently, the attention of prospective passengers at the lower terminal floor is not distracted and the prospective passengers continue to enter the car A.

When the car B is selected as the next car to leave the lower terminal floor the relay B14 is picked up. As a result of such pick-up, the contacts BMI' open to interrupt the holding circuit for the door closing relay B20 and this relay drops out to deenergize the door closing magnet Al9for the car B. The door B16 for the elevator car B now opens to permit entry of passengers into the elevator car.

The energization of the lower terminal floor lantern B24 and of the dispatching signal B22 takes place in the manner discussed in the Lewis patent and the elevator car attendant thereafter operates his car switch B62 in the manner discussed in the Lewis patent to start the elevator car away from the lower terminal floor.

Next it will be assumed that the elevator car B carries a load such as a passenger to be discharged at the lower terminal floor. To assure such discharge the passenger or the car attendant operates the contact device B|50 to open the contacts Bl50a. It will be assumed again that the car B approaches the lower terminal floor at a time when the car A is located at the lower terminal floor and is selected as the next car to 6 leave the lower terminal oor. It will be recalled that the relays B20 and B2i are both energized. As the elevator car B approaches the lower terminal floor the contact bridge BI3 engages the contact strip B9. Such engagement cannot complete a holding circuit for the relay B20 for the reason that such holding circuit is interrupted by the open contacts Bl50a. Consequently, when the elevator car B slows down and the counter E. M. F. relay B2i drops out no holding circuit remains for the relay B20 and this relay drops out to deenergize the door closing magnet AIS for the car B. Such deenergization of the magnet permits the door BIS to open in the manner discussed in the Lewis patent.

After the load has been discharged at the lower terminal floor the car attendant may reclose the door B16 by manipulating his car switch B62 to bridge the contacts 83 and 84. This establishes the following energizing circuit for the door closing relay B20: L1, 5l, 84, B62, 83, 89, B20, 90, 43, L2.

This relay B20 in picking up establishes the following holding circuit: L1, 30, 16, 11, 18, BIO, B13, Bll, 19, 85, Bide, 86, B2lb, 8l, B200., 88, 89, B20, 96, 43, L2.

Consequently, the door closing relay B20 is maintained energized and in turn maintains the door closing magnet AIS for the car B energized.

Upon reclosure the door B16 remains closed luntil the car B is selected as the next car to leave the lower terminal oor. It will be recalled from the Lewis patent that such selection of the elevator car is accompanied by pick up of the lower terminal relay Bl4. The pick up of the lower terminal relay BM results in opening of the con tacts Bide to interrupt the holding circuit for the door closing relay B20. The deenergized door closing relay B20 in turn deenergizes the door closing magnet AIS for the car B and the door opens to permit loading of the car B.

The pick up of the lower terminal relay BI4 also results in energization of the lower terminal door lantern B24. Since the coil of the Contact device B is connected in parallel with the iloor lantern, the coil also is energized to reset the contact device Blil. The dispatching signal B22 subsequently is energized and the car attendant thereafter may operate his car switch B62 in the manner set forth in the aforesaid Lewis patent to start the elevator car B away from the lower terminal floor.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the contact strip B9 is constructed to engage the contact strip B23 slightly before the counter E. M. F. relay B20 drops out as the car prepares to stop at the lower terminal floor. The contact strip Bll is constructed to engage the contact bridge BI3 slightly after the counter E. M. F. relay B2i has dropped out for the aforesaid stop of the elevator car.

Although the elevator car door control has been discussed with reference to the lower terminal landing, it will be appreciated that a similar control may be exercised for the upper terminal landing if so desired.

Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments thereof, numerous modifications falling within the spirit and scope of the invention are possible.

I claim as my invention:

l. In an elevator system, for a structure having a plurality of floors including a dispatching floor, an elevator car for serving the floors of the structure, nrst means for selecting the elevator car to leave the dispatching floor, a door operable for controlling the passage between the elevator car and the dispatching floor when the elevator car is at the dispatching iioor, second means responsive to arrival of the elevator car at the dispatching floor after selection of the elevator car to leave the dispatching floor for opening said door, and third means effective upon arrival of the elevator car at the dispatching floor prior to its selection to leave the dispatching oor for maintaining the door closed.

2. An elevator system as claimed in claim 1 in combination with fourth means responsive to selection of the elevator car to leave the dispatching floor for initiating an opening operation of the door.

3. An elevator system as claimed in claim 1 in combination with means operable for initiating an opening operation of the door upon arrival of the elevator car at the dispatching floor prior to selection of the elevator car to leave the dispatching door.

4. An elevator system as claimed in claim 3 in combination with manually-operable means for initiating a closing operation of the door following said last-named opening operation while said elevator car remains at the dispatching oor, and means effective following an operation of the manually-operable means in response to selection of the elevator car to leave the dispatching floor for initiating an opening operation of the door.

5. In an elevator system for a structure having a plurality of floors including a terminal floor, a bank of elevator cars for serving the floors of the structure, a dispatcher including first means for selecting the next one of the elevator cars to leave the terminal floor, a separate door for controlling the passage between each of the elevator cars and the terminal floor, door-opening second means, third means effective on arrival of any one of the elevator cars at the terminal floor prior to its selection to leave the terminal ,floor for maintaining the door associated with the last-named elevator car closed, and fourth means responsive to selection of the last-named elevator car to leave the terminal floor for initiating an opening operation of the door associated with the last-named elevator car.

6. In an elevator system for a structure having a plurality of floors including a terminal loor, a bank of elevator cars for serving the floors of the structure, a dispatcher including rst means for selecting the next one of the elevator cars to leave the terminal floor, a separate door for controlling the passage between each of the elevator cars and the terminal hoor, door-opening second means, third means effective on arrival of any one of the elevator cars at the terminal floor prior to its selection to leave the terminal floor for maintaining the door associated with the last-named elevator car closed, fourth means responsive to selection of the last-named elevator car to leave the terminal iloor for initiating an opening operation of the door associated with the last-named elevator car, and means operable for initiating an opening operation of the last-named door upon arrival of the last-named elevator car at the terminal floor prior to selection of the lastnamed elevator car as the next car to leave the terminal floor.

7. In an elevator system for a structure having a plurality of floors including a terminal floor, a bank of elevator cars for serving the floors of the structure, a dispatcher including first means for selecting the next one of the elevator cars to leave the terminal floor, a separate door for controlling the passage between each of the elevator cars and the terminal floor, door-opening second means, third means eiective on arrival of any one of the elevator cars at the terminal fioor prior to its selection to leave the terminal floor for maintaining the door associated with the lastnamed elevator car closed, fourth means responsive to selection of the last-named elevator car to leave the terminal iioor for initiating an opening operation of the door associated with the last-named elevator car, means operable for initiating an opening operation of the last-named door upon arrival of the last-named elevator car at the terminal floor prior to selection of the lastnamed elevator car as the next car to leave the terminal floor, and manually-operable means for initiating a closing operation of the last-named door following said last-named opening operaticn While said elevator car remains at the terminal licor, said fourth means following an operation of the manually-operable means to initiate closure of the last-named door being eiective in response to selection of the last-named elevator car as the next car to leave the terminal floor for initiating an opening operation of the lastnamed door. v

8. In an elevator system for a structure having a plurality of floors including a terminal floor, a bank of elevator cars for serving the floors of the structure, a dispatcher including first means for selecting the next one of the elevator cars to leave the terminal iioor, a separate door for controlling the passage between each of the elevator cars and the terminal floor, door-opening .second means, third means elective on arrival of any one of the elevator cars at the terminal floor prior to its selection to leave the terminal floor for maintaining the door associated with the lastnamed elevator car closed, fourth means responsive to selection of the last-named elevator car to leave the terminal floor for initiating an opening operation of the door associated with the last-named elevator car, and means operable from Within the last-named elevator car for initiating an opening operation of the last-named door upon arrival of the last-named elevator car at the terminal floor prior to selection of the lastnamed elevator car as the next car to leave the terminal floor.

JOHN SUOZZO.

No references cited. 

